Kevin McGuire at a Loss for Words Over Taylor Swift’s ACM Awards Invite

One of the most awe-inspiring stories we’ve seen in a long time continues to get better and better. After New Jersey senior Kevin McGuire, who is currently fighting cancer for the second time, asked Taylor Swift to be his prom date, the country superstar came back with a shocking invitation, asking to take McGuire to the ACMs with her in April. In the video below, CBS Philly captured the 18-year-old’s reaction when he heard the news from his hospital bed at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

“I don’t know what else to say,” McGuire said after reading Swift’s invitation to be her date at the ACMs. “I was just trying not to throw up.” McGuire is currently battling Leukemia, the same disease he fought and overcame when he was 13 years old. When he was thinking about his June 1 senior prom (which happens to fall on his birthday), the teen wanted a date that would make him feel confident, despite the treatment he has to undergo before then. He’s had Leukemia once, and he knows what’s coming.

“I’m gonna be bald. I’m gonna be a little chunky,” he says. Empowered by her brother’s strength and positive outlook on life, McGuire’s sister Victoria is the one who set the ball rolling to actually secure her brother his dream date. Taking to Facebook, Victoria set up a page entreating Taylor Swift to take her brother to prom. The page blew up with fans and comments, and soon the country star herself responded via her own Facebook page.

“Kevin, I’m so sorry but I won’t be able to make it to your prom,” she wrote. “But I was wondering, the ACM Awards are coming up.. Would you be my date? Love, Taylor.” Responding to the request in the video below, McGuire seems determined not to let his health keep him from this incredible opportunity in Las Vegas. “I have cancer. Cancer doesn’t have me.” he says. “Taylor, I would love to go with you.”